Off the beaten track

MANILA, Philippines - We’ve written about Formula One countless times. Occasionally, we’ve featured rally races. There’s a reason for our inclination to keep writing about motorsports events. We have, time and again, stressed that Filipinos can – and should – compete in motorsports events as we have the natural skill to advance in its many disciplines. And we stand by that statement to this day.

Last Saturday, April 30, under the sweltering summertime sun, we witnessed how Filipinos can excel in one of the most grueling motorsports events one can indulge in – off-roading. Staged by the Pampanga Off-Road Club, Inc. (PORCI) and sponsored by Land Rover Philippines (LRPhils) and the local Government of Pampanga, the 3rd SM City Pampanga Off-Road Challenge is perhaps the biggest and most significant off-road competition in the country. So significant is the competition, in fact, that LRPhils brought in no less than Rainforest Challenge (RFC) founder and creator Luis Wee to witness the event – and to oversee the construction of RFC special stages designed according to the standard RFC prologue format.

The RFC is considered the Formula One of off-road racing and Team Land Rover Philippines has been participating in the RFC for several years now, winning the Overall Champion in the Electric Winch Category just last year. “We strongly believe that among motorsports, off-roading is where the Filipino can dominate,” justified Marc Soong, LRPhils’ executive director. Team Land Rover Philippines, as sponsors, did not participate in this particular event.

For his part, Wee stressed the importance of not just witnessing, but also helping to raise the level of competition in the Philippines. After Team Land Rover Philippines’ continuously improving performances, Wee feels it’s only proper that we start developing the discipline further. “We accepted LRPhils’ invitation to come over because we are very excited to witness firsthand the Philippine off-roading scene. We hope that by giving the participants a taste of the RFC, we can get a glimpse of how we can set the stage for the first international invitational RFC in the Philippines in the near future,” Wee disclosed.

At the end of the day, the local off-roaders did not disappoint. Through six grueling stages the local drivers and navigators along with their trusted steeds battled – dust, mud and noonday sun be damned. When the dust literally cleared, Resty Sambilad emerged as the individual champion. He was joined on the podium by Edgar “Garu” Quizon and Edison “Tonton” Dungca. The two special team stages were won by John Sambo and Rimpy Bondoc and Norman “Manman” Bengco and Noel Bartolome, Jr. respectively. Be wary of those names. If off-roading takes off in these shores like it should, these could be the next big names in motorsports.